You have more than likely seen a lot more polished plaster than you can imagine, although you weren’t aware of that being its name. So, what’s it all about?
Decorative plaster historically speaking was first discovered in what was called the Mesopotamia region from about 9000 B.C. Sometime later it turned up in Egyptian tombs as a part of their burial artwork. And then later on after that, polished plaster made an appearance and became popular in Europe during the time of the Middle Ages.
- Today, high quality polished plaster in Perth is made to create decorative walls, ceilings, or floor surfaces, giving them all a look of depth and texture resembling stone.
It is made through a technique of combining three or even more layers of a lime-based cement material, which has been manually to produce the perfect amount of sheen.
- Plaster methods vary widely and include creating a tinted, metallic, and a pearlescent finish.
Design and Finish
What is known as “Venetian plaster,” is today one of the oldest known types of building materials which is used for creating a decorative wall surface. This material is also called “Italian plaster” and “Venetian plaster”, and shows a classic interior and exterior finish that has been used on an abundance of buildings for hundreds of years in that area of Europe.
What is called “Tadelakt” is a type of Moroccan plaster seen in steam bath houses which are popular in a number of many countries. It offers a long lasting finish with a light sheen and is water resistant and will not crack.
And Then There’s Stucco
A little bit more renowned, Stucco is yet another type of plaster that is put to use on the inside and outside of many buildings. It is a popular building material in its natural condition and is used to cover the exterior surface in a number of countries. Stucco turns very hard when dry and is often used to cover unbalanced surfaces like bricks, cement blocks, and concrete.
- Others like faux marble polished plaster, is often seen in bathrooms, on columns, and in other decorative roles.
Another technique provides the characteristics of travertine because it increases the looks of the texture in the cement. When using special methods with this material, a skilled craftsman can alter the amount of added gloss so as to create light and shadows at different levels of depth.
Aquatic Origins
What is called “Pearlescent” plaster is derived from minuscule seashell parts which are added to mortar.
- This creates a silvery hue, with tiny flecks of black and brown which are found in many sea shells.
Metallic polished plaster is remarkably shiny because of minerals being added to the base cement mix and polished plaster can also be tinted by using a range of different pigments which can either match or contrast with the surrounding décor.
Now you can see why classy looking polished plaster is so popular!